Montreal Victoire captain Marie-Philip Poulin wins PWHL MVP, Forward of the Year
The Victoire captain was the favorite to win the award — named the Billie Jean King MVP — after she led the league in goals (19) and finished fourth in points (26), just three off the lead. Poulin was critical to Montreal's success in the regular season, where she scored 26 percent of the team's goals and factored into 34 percent. She never went more than two games without a point this season, and no player scored more game-winning goals (6), first goals (5) or insurance goals to put a game out of reach (3) than Poulin.
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She also won Forward of the Year, beating out Knight and New York rookie Sarah Fillier, who finished tied with the most points in the league's regular season (29).
Poulin was a runner-up for last year's MVP last year, which went to Toronto forward Natalie Spooner after a dominant inaugural season. She's the only two-time finalist for the award in the PWHL's two-year history.
Now, Poulin adds an MVP award to a trophy case that already includes three Olympic gold medals, four world championships, multiple MVP and scoring awards during her time in the now-defunct Canadian Women's Hockey League and a Canadian Athlete of the Year award, among many other accolades over a career destined for Hockey Hall of Fame enshrinement.
Poulin already won the league's goal title at the conclusion of the regular season. And Ottawa goalie Gwyneth Philips won the Ilana Kloss Playoff MVP after she led the Charge to the Finals and had an unbelievable .952 save percentage over the postseason.
The PWHL announced the winners of four other major awards at a ceremony on Wednesday afternoon. Here are the results and the finalists.
Rookie of the Year: Sarah Fillier (New York)
Fillier, 25, was one of the best forwards in the league this season after being selected first overall in the 2024 PWHL Draft. She finished her rookie season tied for the league lead in scoring. Her 16 assists were the most by a forward, and her 13 goals ranked fourth. Fillier led rookies in all three categories.
Finalists: Jennifer Gardiner (Montreal) and Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa)
Coach of the Year: Kori Cheverie (Montreal)
Cheverie was a finalist for the award last season and beat out Toronto's head coach, Troy Ryan (the inaugural winner,) this year after leading Montreal to a first-place finish in the regular season.
🏆 2025 Coach of the Year: Kori Cheverie
Behind every great season is a brilliant mind.—🏆 Entraîneuse de l'année 2025 : Korie Cheverie
Derrière chaque grande saison se cache un esprit encore plus grand. pic.twitter.com/jgiaZFvcD3
— PWHL (@thepwhlofficial) June 25, 2025
Finalists: Troy Ryan (Toronto) and Carla MacLeod (Ottawa)
Goaltender of the Year: Ann-Renée Desbiens (Montreal)
Desbiens was the very best goalie in the PWHL this season. Her 15 wins, 1.86 goals against average and .932 save percentage led all starters and were critically important to Montreal's success in the regular season. The Victoire lost in the first round of the playoffs, but Desbiens was excellent there too with a 1.55 goals against average and .943 save percentage that was only bested by playoff MVP Gwyneth Philips.
Finalists: Aerin Frankel (Boston) and Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa)
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Defender of the Year: Renata Fast (Toronto)
Fast became the first defender to be voted a finalist for MVP, a credit to her impact at both ends of the ice for the Toronto Sceptres. No defender had more points (22) or hits (63) this season than Fast. With almost 740 minutes of play, Fast was on the ice more than any player in the league, averaging 24:39 per game.
Finalists: Sophie Jaques (Minnesota) and Claire Thompson (Minnesota)
PWHL All-Rookie Team
Forwards: Sarah Fillier (New York), Jennifer Gardiner (Montreal), Britta Curl-Salemme (Minnesota)
Defense: Cayla Barnes (Montreal), Anna Wilgren (Montreal)
Goalie: Gwyneth Philips (Ottawa)
PWHL Second Team All-Stars
Forwards: Daryl Watts (Toronto), Tereza Vanišová (Ottawa), Kendall Coyne Schofield (Minnesota)
Defense: Claire Thompson (Minnesota), Ella Shelton (New York)
Goalie: Aerin Frankel (Boston)
PWHL First Team All-Stars
Forwards: Marie-Philip Poulin (Montreal), Hilary Knight (Boston), Sarah Fillier (New York)
Defense: Renata Fast (Toronto), Sophie Jaques (Minnesota)
Goalie: Ann-Renée Desbiens (Montreal)
The PWHL provides performance bonuses as laid out in the collective bargaining agreement:
Billie Jean King MVP: $5,000
Forward of the Year: $4,000
Defender of the Year: $4,000
Goalie of the Year: $4,000
Rookie of the Year: $4,000
'Hockey for All' award: $4,000
(Photo of Marie-Philip Poulin: Minas Panagiotakis / Getty Images)
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